New hope for ambitious English coaches as England stars get big jobs

Mansfield Town boss David Flitcroft is hoping England stars Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard excel in their new managerial positions to help inspire ambitious English coaches.

With the past trend to appoint foreign managers to big clubs over here as well as the England job, Flitcroft said he has been enthused to see Gerrard at Rangers and Lampard in the opposite dug-out with Derby for tomorrow night’s pre-season friendly at the One Call Stadium.

“I think it’s inspirational,” he smiled. “You look at what Gareth (Southgate) has done at international level.

“When Fabio Capello got the job, as an English coach, you started thinking where does this all start and end for aspiring English coaches?

“With what he’s been able to do, Gareth has given us all a focus again and an inspiration that one day there could be an opening for English coaches.”

Flitcroft said many top English players had gone straight into pundit work.

“I think it’s too easy now for experienced Premiership players and all the resolve those best players have got, to go and sit in a studio and comment on it,” he said.

“But when they go and take the hot seats – Steven Gerrard and now Frank, seeing some of England’s finest players do that is inspirational and you want them to do well. You want them to excel. They have the experience and resolve and they have that reputation.

“I hope for English football that Steve and Frank do fantastic jobs for their clubs and set a benchmark for English coaches.

“Probably too many players go and sit in a studio, but I am enthused by lads going out there and doing the hard miles.”

He added: “Frank will know from his dad how difficult is to be a manager. “If it doesn’t work out then they go back to the studio with that experience and more humble, knowing what a manager goes through as it can be a lonely place at times.

“I am buzzing that those two in particular have gone to fly the flag for English managers.”

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